THE HOSPITAL
Sid and Garrett burst into the waiting room where the Commissioner was staring down at the floor.
He looked up and saw Sid carrying a gigantic brown teddy bear and a big box of chocolates, and Garrett carrying a big bouquet of flowers.
Part of him wanted to laugh seeing Sid struggle with a bear almost as big as him.
"I'm waiting for her to get out of surgery," he told them.
"Darn," Sid dropped the bear in a chair and slumped down.
"We'll wait with you," Garrett said as he sat down in the chair next to the Commissioner.
"We're so sorry Boss," Sid said glumly. "We love Abby."
"I know. I love her too," he sighed rubbing his temples.
Garrett and Sid exchanged glances. Garrett already knew this little tidbit but Sid did not.
"Oh boy," Sid said quietly, his eyes widening.
Garrett nodded in agreement. "Oh boy indeed."
The two sat quietly with the Commissioner just as the pair of friends had sat with Job in his suffering.
LATER THAT NIGHT
After surgery, they each got a turn to visit Baker.
Unfortunately she was heavily sedated and hadn't woken up yet.
The doctor explained to Frank that it indeed had been just a surface wound. The bullet had grazed her shoulder.
However, it had nicked an artery which explained the extra loss of blood. They were going to keep her hospitalized for a couple of days just to be safe.
Frank visited the gift shop and asked that they deliver a dozen roses to her room once she had woken up.
And suddenly he had to get out of there.
It was overwhelming.
He had seen too many losses in his lifetime.
His wife. His son. His daughter-in-law.
He hadn't been close to a woman in a very long time.
It scared the hell out of him that Abigail could have died tonight. And what scared him too was how much she meant to his life.
He had his detail take him home.
He didn't sleep much.